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Electrolysis vs Laser Hair Removal


Electrolysis vs Laser Hair Removal

Electrolysis vs Laser Hair Removal

In the hair removal world, the battle for the most effective treatment for permanent reduction boils down to two competitors: electrolysis and laser hair removal. Which is more effective? Which will save you more money/time? The answers are all here for you below.

Electrolysis and laser hair removal work in very different ways

Electrolysis removes hairs one by one by inserting an electric needle into each follicle, while laser hair removes attacks the pigment in hairs, electrolysis targets the follicle and destroys it over continuous sessions. As such, electrolysis is far more time consuming–depending on what area is being treated, electrolysis can take up to 20 sessions, whereas laser hair removal generally requires 4-6.

While electrolysis has been touted as a good alternative to laser hair removal because it can work on any hair/skin color, this does not apply if the laser hair removal spa you chose uses Candela machines. The Candela GentleLASE Pro as well as the Gentle: skintoneYAG are safe to use skin tone.

Laser hair removal beats electrolysis

For most, however, laser hair removal beats electrolysis in terms of cost and time saved. Laser hair removal can be used for hair on larger areas, unlike electrolysis, which does one hair at a time. Plus, sessions of electrolysis are usually charged by the hour–therefore, if you can only afford a certain amount of time, depending on the area, not all of the hair will be treated and will be saved for the next session, resulting in an overall longer, more expensive process.

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While both methods can reduce hair permanently, the decision between laser hair removal and electrolysis comes down to the color hair you have as well as the area you would like to be treated. If you have light hair and want to treat a small area, electrolysis is a good option. However, if your hair is darker, you want to treat any amount of hair, and you like it to be faster and cheaper, go for laser hair removal.

Laser Hair Removal vs. IPL

While IPL, or Intense Pulsed Light, is often boasted as a cheaper alternative to laser hair removal that produces the same results, further inspection discounts these claims. IPL and Laser hair removal are often considered the same thing, and while they do have some similar properties, the way in which they work and the results they yield are very different.

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While IPL and laser hair removal both target the melanin in hair contained within the follicle beneath the skin, the ways in which they do it are distinct. IPL utilizes xenon flash lamps that emit several light wavelengths that attack melanin–the broad spectrum light used in IPL is not as strong or precise as lasers. In clinical studies conducted using the Candela laser hair removal system versus the IPL, the laser was found to be more effective at removing hair for longer periods of time and overall reduced hair growth.

IPL takes more sessions to see significant results

Also, since IPL’s light is not as focused or powerful as lasers, it takes more sessions to see significant results. While one could see a significant permanent reduction with lasers in 4-6 sessions, some have said IPL takes 8-10 sessions. Therefore, with laser hair removal not only will you see better results, but you will see them in less time.

IPL is far less versatile when compared to laser hair removal in terms of what skin and hair colors can be treated. It caters mainly to light skin/dark hair. IPL has multiple uses but is nowhere near as versatile as lasers. IPL can treat skin conditions such as rosacea, sun damage, and broken capillaries, while lasers are capable of treating all of those issues in addition to acne, wrinkles, ingrown hairs/shaving bumps, freckles and more.

Conclusion

Both IPL and laser hair removal can be expensive for long term hair reduction; however, if you are going to spend the money on several sessions of hair removal, why not pay for the more effective method? At Satori Laser, we offer the highest quality lasers on the market for an affordable price, so you don’t have to make a choice between cheap and effective.

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